10 Best Substrates & Gravel for Saltwater Aquariums 2025: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Substrates & Gravel for Saltwater Aquariums

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How we created this substrates & gravel list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best substrates & gravel for saltwater aquarium.
We scanned thousands of customer reviews and ratings and scored each product based on its performance against each of the key considerations. We then considered how popular a product is with Chewy customers and combined that with its key consideration scores to create the list of the best substrates & gravel for saltwater aquariums.

Key substrates & gravel considerations

Compatibility with Marine Life

Durability

Grain Size

Porosity

1
Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand, Natural Tan, 5-lb bag
Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand, Natural Tan, 5-lb bag

Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand, Natural Tan, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars
209
$6.92Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.1/5
Great

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Grain Size

4.6/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Pond, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
2
Pure Water Pebbles Coated Aquarium Gravel, Jet Black, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Coated Aquarium Gravel, Jet Black, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Coated Aquarium Gravel, Jet Black, 5-lb bag

Pure Water Pebbles Coated Aquarium Gravel, Jet Black, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars
328
$5.49Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.0/5
Great

Durability

3.9/5
Good

Grain Size

4.2/5
Great

Porosity

4.0/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Pond, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid...
3
Stoney River Premium Aquarium Sand, 5-lb bag, Black
Stoney River Premium Aquarium Sand, 5-lb bag, Black

Stoney River Premium Aquarium Sand, 5-lb bag, Black

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
36
$7.63Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Grain Size

4.6/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.4/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish, Discus, Bottom Feeder...
4
GloFish Fluorescent Aquarium Gravel, Black, 5-lb bag
GloFish Fluorescent Aquarium Gravel, Black, 5-lb bag

GloFish Fluorescent Aquarium Gravel, Black, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
113
$4.09Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.3/5
Great

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Grain Size

4.2/5
Great

Porosity

4.5/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Cichlid, Betta...
5
Spectrastone Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag, Blue Jean
Spectrastone Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag, Blue Jean

Spectrastone Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag, Blue Jean

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
25
$6.78Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.1/5
Great

Durability

4.8/5
Excellent

Grain Size

4.5/5
Great

Porosity

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Bottom Feeder, Cichlid...
6
Exotic Pebbles Natural Washed Black Gravel, Black, 20-lb
Exotic Pebbles Natural Washed Black Gravel, Black, 20-lb

Exotic Pebbles Natural Washed Black Gravel, Black, 20-lb

Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars
36
$22.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.8/5
Excellent

Durability

4.3/5
Great

Grain Size

4.7/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Pond, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Marine Fish, Betta...
7
Stoney River Black Beach Pebbles Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag
Stoney River Black Beach Pebbles Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Stoney River Black Beach Pebbles Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
16
$12.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Grain Size

4.7/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Bottom Feeder, Cichlid...
8
Pure Water Pebbles Frosted Aquarium Gravel, Rainbow, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Frosted Aquarium Gravel, Rainbow, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Frosted Aquarium Gravel, Rainbow, 5-lb bag

Pure Water Pebbles Frosted Aquarium Gravel, Rainbow, 5-lb bag

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
50
$5.49Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Grain Size

4.8/5
Excellent

Porosity

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Pond, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid...
9
Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Saltwater Aquarium Sand, Natural White #1, 20-lb bag
Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Saltwater Aquarium Sand, Natural White #1, 20-lb bag
Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Saltwater Aquarium Sand, Natural White #1, 20-lb bag

Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Saltwater Aquarium Sand, Natural White #1, 20-lb bag

Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars
46
$27.50Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.3/5
Great

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Grain Size

4.2/5
Great

Porosity

4.2/5
Great

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Saltwater

Fish Type

Marine Fish, Marine Invertebrate
10
Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Nutty Pebbles, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Nutty Pebbles, 5-lb bag
Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Nutty Pebbles, 5-lb bag

Pure Water Pebbles Natural Aquarium Gravel, Nutty Pebbles, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
134
$6.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Compatibility with Marine Life

4.1/5
Great

Durability

4.1/5
Great

Grain Size

4.0/5
Great

Porosity

3.8/5
Good

Is this substrates & gravel right for my pet?

Material

Stone

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Pond, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Goldfish, Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid...